Valletta mayor: ‘Unbridled development making city unlivable’

The barrage of new developments, including a number of illegal developments, taking place in Valletta are negatively impacting the city's cultural heritage and are making it "unlivable" for residents, according to Alexiei Dingli, the city’s mayor.

Dingli was speaking at a press conference held together with Friends of the Earth Malta, Din l-Art Helwa and the Valletta Alive Foundation, where the NGOs voiced their concerns on the "deterioration" of Valletta.

The council, together with the NGOs will be sending an open letter to the Prime Minister with the aim of ensuring that the regeneration of Valletta does not "go overboard," that developments do not take place at the expense of residents and for Valletta's world heritage status to be protected.

Dingli pointed to a number of developments where a number of floors were added to existing buildings, adding that in many cases, little consideration was given to Valletta's the cultural heritage.

He said that there were many cases were construction works had started before the necessary permits had been issued.

John Ebejer from the Valletta Alive Foundation said that residents were having to face increasing difficulties with time.

"Parking is a perennial problem and it is not getting better. There is also noise from establishments that is causing problems," he said.

Ebejer said that while Valletta “coming to life” was a positive development, it should not happen at the expense of residents. 

"We cannot have the regeneration of a historic city if residents keep relecoating away."

Martin Galea de Giovanni, of Friends of the Earth Malta, called for a holistic policy for Valletta, adding that there should be a limit on the height of buildings that takes into account Vallettas skyline as well as solar rights.

"I would urge people to do more than just complain. They must take action and send objections to the Planning Authority."

Valletta’s world heritage status was also brought up in relation to the high-rise developments being proposed in Sliema and Imriehel.

Maria Grazia Cassar, from Din l-Art Helwa, stressed that in addition to protecting Valletta, it was also important to protect the surrounding area.

"High-rise building are a national issue and not just a problem for Sliema. These developments are a risk to Valletta's world heritage status."

Several Valletta residents who were in attendance voiced concerns mainly related to matters of noise pollution and parking with one resident lamenting the fact that Valletta is "impoverishing itself in order to make money."

"Valletta is under siege for the fourth time in its history. We are doing to Valletta what the Luftwaffe did not succeed in doing," said Ruben Grima, a Valletta resident.

Grima said that he was alarmed and angry with the current situation, and stressed that Valletta can’t take the level of development that it is experiencing, adding that he had flagged a number of irregularities to the Planning Authority (PA), including those related to a boutique hotel currently under construction in Merchant Street.

Planning Authority reaction

In a reaction to the press conference the PA said that it is continuously in discussions with the Ambassador for UNESCO and the Superintendent for Cultural Heritage, to ensure that proposed development applications and ongoing work in Valletta do not “compromise the urban harmony and skyline of the city.”

In a statement, the authority said that it does not compromise on the thorough scrutiny all proposed development applications within the Capital go through, adding that it is awaiting feedback from ICONOS – the International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites – on five proposed projects prior to taking a decision.

Referring to the boutique hotel on Merchant Street, which it said, took the law into its own hands and abusively added an extra floor, the PA said that it can confirm that it did not hesitate to take the necessary enforcement action.

The entrance to the boutique hotel under construction in Merchant Street that has been sealed by the Planning Authority to prevent further works from being carried out

“The action was escalated when the developer breached the notice resulting in the Authority imposing a daily fine,” adding that all tools and machinery were evacuated with the property being sealed to prevent works from continuing.